Hinge



1960 J. E. CRISERA 2,938,228

HINGE Filed June 2, 1958 9 Joseph E. Crisera INVENTOR.

United States Patent HINGE Joseph E. Crisera, 7902 16th Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed June 2, 1958, Ser. No. 739,257 1 Claim. (Cl. 16-146) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hinges particularly for drop shelves, although it will be understood, of course, that the device may be used for any other purpose for which it may be found adapted.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a hinge of the character described comprising novel means for automatically securing a drop shelf in raised or operative position.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide, in a single unit, means for hingedly mounting a drop shelf on a wall or the like and for firmly supporting said shelf in a horizontal position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a hinge of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, showing a pair of hinges embodying the present invention in use for mounting a drop shelf on a wall or other support, said shelf being shown in raised or operative position;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevational w'ew; and

Figure 4 is a side elevational view, showing the drop shelf in lowered position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference character 5 designates a conventional drop shelf which is mounted for vertical swinging movement on a wall or other support 6.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a stationary leaf 7 of suitable metal which is secured vertically on the wall 6 through the medium of countersunk screws 8. Pivotally mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the upper end of the stationary leaf 7 is a leaf 9 which is adapted to be secured beneath the shelf 5 through the medium of countersunk screws 10. The pivotally connected ends of the leaves 7 and 9 comprise aligned knuckles 11 in which a pintle 12 is inserted. Struck downwardly from the free end portion of the swinging leaf 9, on the outer side thereof, is a depending stop Eng fiber 13 the purpose of which will be presently set Projecting laterally from the stationary leaf 7 is a pair of vertically spaced, aligned bearings 14. A pin or shaft 15 is journalled in the bearings 14. Mounted on the shaft 15 is a horizontally swingable bracket 16. The bracket 16 includes a substantially triangular plate 17 of suitable metal having formed integrally therewith eyes or the like 18 which are fixed on the end portions of the shaft 15 above and below the bearings 14. This is shown to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawing. A coil spring 19 is mounted on the shaft 15 between the bearings 14 and operatively connected to the bracket 16, as at 20, for yieldingly urging said bracket toward open or operative position. Rising from the free end portion ice of the plate 17 is an upwardly extending projection 21 which is engageable with the depending stop member 13 for arresting the bracket 16 when it reaches operative position under the influence of the spring 19.

It is thought that the use or operation of the hinge will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. In the installation shown, a pair of the hinges of the present invention are provided for mounting the drop shelf 5 on the wall or other support 6. Of course, any suitable number of the hinges may be used. With the drop shelf 5 in lowered or inoperative position as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the brackets 16 extend between the opposed leaves 7 and 9 where they are retained against the tension of the springs 19 by the weight of said shelf.

When the shelf 5 is raised to open or operative position the springs 19 swing the plates 17 outwardly to a position at substantially right angles to the leaves 7 beneath the now open leaves 9 beneath which the upwardly extending projections 21 engage for supporting said shelf in an obvious manner. The stops 13 are in the paths of the upwardly extending projections 21 for arresting the plates 17 when they reach open position. Of course, to drop or lower the shelf 5 the plates 17 are swung inwardly against the leaves 7 and beneath the knuckles 11. The construction and arrangement is such that the plates 17 and the upwardly extending projections 21 on the free end portions thereof clear the knuckles 11 when the brackets 16 are swung to operative or inoperative position.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A hinge for mounting a drop shelf on a vertical support, said hinge including a stationary leaf mounted on the support, a swinging leaf attached to the shelf and pivotally mounted on the stationary leaf by a horizontal pivot portion, a pair of vertically aligned, spaced bearings on one side of the stationary leaf, a shaft journalled in said bearings, a horizontally swingable plate mounted on the shaft and adapted to extend between the leaves when the shelf is in the lowered position, said swingable.

plate having a longer dimension along its uppermost horizontal leading edge than the length of said pivot portion, said swingable plate being mounted on said shaft so that the uppermost leading edge beginning with said shaft and continuing for a distancegreater than the length of said pivot portion rides in a horizontal plane below said pivot portion, an upwardly extending projection on said plate at a point from the shaft greater than the length of said pivot portion and slidably engages the underside of the swinging leaf to support the shelf in an open position, a coil spring mounted on the shaft between the bearings and operatively connected to the plate for yieldingly urging the same toward open position, and a depending stop member on the swinging leaf engageable with said projection for limiting the swinging movement of the plate toward operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,391,861 Bellows Ian. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 418,741 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1934 

